Arslan

That first win came at Thurles in early March 2026, and by all accounts it was a performance worth waiting for. His rider Anna McGuinness described him as "very straightforward" on the day, jumping brilliantly and travelling well. The race did unfold helpfully — the second favourite fell, removing what looked like the main threat — but McGuinness was quick to react, steering Arslan around the fallen horse without losing momentum. Clean jumping and a cool head from the saddle: those are not nothing.

What makes Arslan's profile genuinely interesting is where he comes from. He is trained by Willie Mullins, the dominant force in jump racing, whose yard has sent out 220 winners already this season alone. That kind of firepower means horses in that stable are well-prepared, and Mullins had flagged Arslan early as a horse who "wants a trip" — meaning he is better over longer distances — and targeted him specifically at staying races over hurdles. That kind of patient, purposeful placing of a horse matters. Arslan was second in his point-to-point before joining the yard, which suggested raw ability was there, and Mullins has simply been coaxing it out.

His recent form reads 4-7-1-2-2-3 from his last six races, which, read right to left as chronological order, shows a horse gradually improving and climbing the placings before breaking through. He raced just one day ago, so he is very much in active campaign. With a 14% win rate — roughly 1 win in every 7 races — he is not yet a prolific winner, but the consistency of his placing suggests a horse still on the way up rather than one that has found its ceiling. At six years old, with a Mullins operation pointing him in the right direction, the single win at Thurles may turn out to be just the beginning.